Daijiworld Media Network - Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai, Aug 29: A 38-year-old man from Ulwe, who had been suffering from breathing difficulty and wheezing for nearly two to three months despite undergoing treatment at several places, was found to have an unusual cause behind his persistent symptoms — a chikoo seed lodged in his left main bronchus for nearly three months.
The foreign object was successfully removed through a bronchoscopy by a team of pulmonologists, providing the patient with immediate relief and restoring normal airflow.
The patient, identified as Manoj (name changed), had initially consulted several doctors for his breathing problems. Although medicines provided temporary relief, his symptoms did not disappear completely. A doctor eventually advised him to undergo bronchoscopy, following which the actual cause was detected.
Pulmonologists Dr Shahid Patel and Dr Tanay Sinha, along with anaesthetist Dr Shahabuddin, examined the patient. An HRCT scan showed narrowing of the left main bronchus, but the reason for the narrowing was not immediately clear.
During bronchoscopy, doctors discovered that a chikoo seed was lodged inside the left main bronchus and had almost completely blocked the airway. The surrounding area had developed swelling and accumulated secretions.
The patient was placed under anaesthesia and the seed was carefully removed using a specialised mesh snare device. Once the seed was extracted, the airway opened up and the patient was able to breathe freely almost immediately.
"The procedure was challenging. The seed had remained lodged in the airway for nearly three months and had become firmly attached to the inner lining. Moreover, its smooth surface made it difficult to grip with the instrument. The procedure lasted around 50 minutes and the seed was removed with great precision. There was no injury to the airway during the procedure," said Dr Shahid Patel.
Doctors later learned that the patient had experienced a sudden choking episode while eating chikoo around three months earlier. As his symptoms subsequently eased to some extent, he did not realise that the incident could have been serious. He had also not mentioned the choking episode to his doctors, contributing to the delay in reaching the correct diagnosis.
Doctors warned that a foreign object remaining in the airway for a prolonged period can lead to serious complications, including infections, recurrent pneumonia and permanent damage to parts of the lung.
Although incidents of food particles or fruit seeds becoming lodged in the airway are relatively uncommon among adults, their symptoms can sometimes resemble those of cough or other respiratory conditions, making diagnosis difficult.
Dr Tanay Sinha advised people to avoid talking, laughing or eating in a hurry while consuming food, as these behaviours can increase the risk of food particles or fruit seeds accidentally entering the airway.
He said extra care should be taken while feeding young children and elderly people. Anyone who experiences persistent coughing, wheezing or breathing difficulty after a choking episode should seek specialist medical attention promptly.